Let people buy cannabis at off-licences, says Lilley

CANNABIS should be legalised and sold through government-licensed outlets, Peter Lilley, the former deputy Conservative leader, says today.

He is the first leading Tory ex-Cabinet minister to make the case for decriminalising soft drugs.

Writing in The Telegraph, he urges the candidates for the Tory leadership to adopt reform of the drug laws in order to demonstrate that the party will be open to radical new ideas.

Mr Lilley, who served under Margaret Thatcher and John Major and has a reputation as a Right-winger, says one of the biggest handicaps the Conservatives faced during the general election was the perception that their policies were negative and punitive.

"On crime and asylum seekers as well as drugs, Conservatism seemed to be about locking people up. It ought to be about setting people free.

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"Nothing could more vividly dramatise reaffirmation of our belief in freedom and personal responsibility than to move clearly in favour of liberalising the law on cannabis."

The Social Market Foundation think tank will publish today a pamphlet by Mr Lilley in which he argues that the law on cannabis use is unenforceable and indefensible in a country where alcohol and nicotine are legal.

He envisages that magistrates could issue licences for outlets selling cannabis to persons over 18. Consumption would not be allowed on the premises or in public places and a limit would be imposed on the amount sold.

The drug would be taxed and carry a health warning. Cultivation for personal use would be permitted. Backing decriminalisation would be a major change of direction for the Conservatives.

Mr Lilley said he wanted to prevent the "demonisation" of cannabis use undermining respect for the law and traditional moral values.

Penalising cannabis use made a descent into hard drugs more likely. "This is because it brings the soft drug user into contact with the hard drug pusher.

"The key objective of reforming the cannabis laws should surely be to break that contact between soft drug users and the criminals who push hard drugs." He said the alleged health risks of cannabis use were either bogus or exaggerated.